Boston bombing suspect pleads not guilty to 30 counts

Former University of Massachusetts Dartmouth student Dzhokhar Tsarnaev pleaded not guilty to 30 criminal counts related to the Boston Marathon bombing during his arraignment Wednesday in federal court.

Former University of Massachusetts Dartmouth student Dzhokhar Tsarnaev pleaded not guilty to 30 criminal counts related to the Boston Marathon bombing during his arraignment Wednesday in federal court.

Tsarnaev appeared in the same courtroom where about 30 victims and relatives were on-hand to see his first public appearance since police arrested him April 19 in Watertown.

The arraignment lasted about 10 minutes. Tsarnaev, wearing a bright orange prison jump suit and black T-shirt, sat between his two lawyers and frequently scratched his chin. He had a cast on his left hand and his face and eyes appeared swollen. He spoke with a distinct Russian-like accent when pleading not guilty to charges that carry a potential death sentence.

Tsarnaev appeared nonchalant, almost bored, and his mouth was slightly contorted, giving the appearance of a smirk, though that might have been due to the wounds he suffered during the April 19 shootout with police in Watertown. Police said he was shot in the head, neck, legs and hand.

Prosecutors said they expect to call 80 to 100 witnesses when the case reaches trial, which could last between three to four months.

Tsarnaev is scheduled to return to court Sept. 23. Judge Marianne Bowler told attorneys Wednesday that she "frowns upon" sealing court documents, and added that she will review the documents that have thus far been sealed.

"The public has a right to know about the nature of these proceedings," Bowler said.

Tsarnaev's relatives, including his sisters, attended the hearing and they walked past reporters after without commenting.

Several spectators, including at least a dozen people supporting Tsarnaev, flocked to the John Joseph Moakley Courthouse, which was besieged by numerous national and foreign media outlets.

Mary Churbuck, 34, a Freetown resident, attended the hearing with Lacey Buckley, 23, of Washington State. Both wore black T-shirts with a picture of Tsarnaev next to a lion and a scale engulfed in flames with "Free the Lion" written in black.

They said they met online through a pro-Tsarnaev website.

"I believe he's innocent," said Churbuck, who wore a white hijab and converted to Islam a few months ago.

"He's my Muslim brother and I will fight for him in a peaceful, nonviolent way, to stand up for him. He's just a real good kid who has a lot going for him," Churbuck said, adding that she never met Tsarnaev, but that they had friends in common.

"He's a human being like everyone else," Mack said. "I have sympathy for the victims. I can see where they're coming from, but I can support who I want. I think he's innocent."

Asked by a reporter if Tsarnaev's looks had anything to do with her support, Mack replied: "Looks are not everything."

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Other Tsarnaev supporters said the government's evidence was contradictory and fabricated. They accused the government of doctoring photographs and using scare tactics.

"The indictment is just hilarious. None of it makes sense," said Buckley, who was in tears after the arraignment.

Tsarnaev's indictment includes charges that he used a weapon of mass destruction in the bombings, which killed three people and wounded more than 280. He also faces charges related to carjacking a man in Boston with his late brother, Tamerlan, including the murder of MIT police officer Sean Collier.

Those killed in the marathon bombings were Martin Richard, 8, of Dorchester, Krystle Campbell, 29, of Medford and Lu Lingizi, 23, a Chinese national and Boston University student. Several other victims suffered amputations from their injuries.

Tsarnaev is charged with using a weapon of mass destruction resulting in death, conspiracy, bombing a public place, malicious destruction of property resulting in death, murder, using a firearm to commit a carjacking, carjacking resulting in serious bodily injury, interfering with commerce and aiding and abetting.

Prosecutors said 17 of those charges carry the death penalty or life in prison without parole.

FBI agents said they found a black jacket and white baseball hat inside Tsarnaev’s dorm room at UMass Dartmouth that matched those worn by one of the alleged Boston Marathon bombers, according to court documents.

The agents found, among other things, “a large pyrotechnic” and BBs after executing a search warrant Sunday inside Tsarnaev’s room at 7341 Pine Dale Hall on April 19, when the entire campus was evacuated.

Brittney Gillis, 20, who lived in Westport and attended UMass Dartmouth last semester, attended Wednesday's court proceedings to see Tsarnaev, who was friends with people she knew on campus.

"I think he was just very influenced by his brother," Gillis said, adding that her friends who knew Tsarnaev described him as a nice, friendly kid.

"They thought he would never do things like this," Gillis said, who believes Tsarnaev is probably guilty of the charges filed against him.

"It's hard to put all this together," she said. "I just don't know what to think."